The Road to Glory

Who is Halo?A silhouette of a man with a question mark is drawn, with “Tonight Show” written in large letters below. The date, Eastern Time, and guest introductions are also included. A woman opens the glass door after looking at the broadcast program poster.This is a broadcasting station in Los Angeles, USA. A man in a suit follows behind the woman wearing jeans.“Are you really going to do it?”“The viewers want it, don’t they?”“Well, they do want it… But I’m worried if we can fill parts 1 and 2 since it’s a topic that’s been covered on other shows. Won’t it be a bit loose if there’s only analysis and identity speculation?”“Don’t worry. I have something in mind.”“Lucy, what are you planning to do? Hey, Lucy!”The platinum blonde woman rushed into the elevator as if running. As usual, she had a content meeting scheduled for her talk show “Daytime Show” on TDS.Right now. In the “Daytime Show” meeting room.Lucy, who came in with an iced Americano full of ice, put down the takeout cup on the table. Everyone was already seated.In fact, the meeting proceeded smoothly as the framework was already set. Until they talked about the most important “casting” for this content.“How is the casting going?”“It’s progressing smoothly. Actually, we’ve secured all the English-speaking ones and are adjusting schedules.”“What about that kid?”“If you mean that kid…”Lucy chewed on the ice with a crunch while looking at the casting manager. Ice that suppresses impatience and irritation.The casting manager had missed the most important booking. Lucy chewed the ice and spoke deliberately.“Now, look, Calvin. What are we doing?”“We’re preparing a special segment.”“Yes, we’re preparing a ‘HALO Special’. As latecomers, that is.”The most famous show in America is running a ‘Halo Identity Speculation’ special, and this special is spreading to national broadcasting stations.It can be seen as a special where they invite artists suspected of being Halo and deduce like Sherlock Holmes. It’s a very hot content and the response is intense.From content that brings in one person for an in-depth interview to secretly filming all suspected artists. Thus, quite a lot of content related to Halo has been consumed so far.“I think our content is progressing well too.”“That’s right. Because there hasn’t been any content inviting influencers yet.”“…”“We invite cover specialist influencers to show a HALO cover performance. It’s novel and new. First. What an attractive word… However,”Lucy’s red lips formed a curve.“Let’s be a bit greedy here. We consume all of this content so that no other show can follow our content. So, what should we do?”“I’ll make sure to cast properly.”Lucy raised her lips at the casting manager’s words.“What was the most talked-about video recently for Halo covers?”The casting manager finally realized the intention of the long lecture.“The one Belle Morrison tagged-““With influencers of more diverse nationalities.”Lucy quickly corrected her words, but the casting manager seemed to have grasped her inner thoughts and repeated,“I’ll cast him somehow.”Well, Lucy had decided to do the consumed content after seeing the recently talked-about ‘HALO’s Son’ video.She nodded satisfactorily.***Meanwhile, Halo, still unaware of the affairs across the ocean, was facing two people.“Hello, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Moon Seoyeon, who has wished to be Roh Haeil’s keyboard since birth. Meeting you so close like this is truly overwhelming, and I feel like I’m going to cry-““Since before I was born?”Halo looked at the short-haired woman’s personal information.Moon Seoyeon, 28 years old. There was an 11-year age difference with Roh Haeil.She spoke with a calm face as if it were obvious.“Yes, God appeared in my dream and said, ‘Listen, Seoyeon, you will become Roh Haeil’s keyboard’…”“That’s going too far.”“Is it? Then, my ancestor appeared in my dream and told me to write down three characters in a notebook. Why did they give me Roh Haeil’s name instead of lottery numbers? It’s because Roh Haeil is my lottery…”“Just the lottery numbers-““Anyway, the important thing is that my lifelong dream has come true. At this moment.”The woman hurriedly spoke, interrupting the man sitting next to her. With sparkling eyes, she begs to be chosen. Seeing her casually tell lies that anyone could see through, she seemed to have an unusual personality.“She doesn’t seem to be in her right mind.”Han Jinyeong muttered softly and looked at the portfolio the woman had brought.A portfolio filled with many entries.The most noticeable among them was the concours record and ‘Dropped out of Korea National University of Arts, Instrumental Music Department (Piano)’.It wasn’t strange for a piano major to handle the keyboard, but it was concerning that she was a person who had been on a smooth elite course. Is that why she didn’t fit in with that side, being this crazy?“Ahem.”And the drummer who came with her, Nam Gyuhwan.The man with a long beard as long as his hair was precisely a percussionist (a person who handles various percussion instruments).What’s peculiar about this one is that he’s not from Korea National University of Arts. Not from an arts high school either, but someone who jumped into bands from a young age. It was such an opposite duo that it was surprising they were together.Unlike the keyboardist who had been praising from the moment she arrived, he started with the main point.“I’d like to state that I prefer to participate as a session musician rather than a band member.”“Hey!”Moon Seoyeon cried out in surprise, apparently this was not an agreed-upon statement.Session rather than band.In other words, it meant he would focus on individual activities rather than group activities.Moon Seoyeon glances at the boy.But since they met, the boy had never lost his faint smile for even a moment.“I applied because I want to learn about Roh Haeil’s music, composition, and harmonies while working as Roh Haeil’s session musician. I certainly thought I wanted to perform together, and I want to play Roh Haeil’s music. However, there is someone to whom I must give my first and last.”It was a frankness that could be offensive to some.To talk about another singer in front of a singer.But Roh Haeil didn’t seem to mind much.To the extent that Moon Seoyeon, who was watching, thought it was a bit unusual.“May I ask who it is?”“It’s someone who always watches me from one place. As glorious and dazzling as his name… The Sun.”Han Jinyeong cancelled his judgment that Nam Gyuhwan was normal unlike Moon Seoyeon.They were the same kind, just with different tensions. Yes, they say birds of a feather flock together.“Becoming his band is my long-cherished wish.”Unnecessarily solemn.“I’m going to find him and ask to be put in his band. Calling him ‘Glory’ first, as in the song.”“How about if he comes to you first and asks you to join his band?”“Oh!”The man’s eyes lit up at the boy’s question, saying it would be an honor just to imagine it.Then at some point, the man shook his head.“Of course it would be an honor, but still, I… I want to find him first. Preferably before he reveals his identity. No, I definitely will. I think a fan should be able to find their singer even if they’re wearing rags!”The boy’s expression became a bit strange.“I’ve even prepared what to say.”“Hey, that’s enough…”This isn’t a Halo band interview, and they’re clearly in front of another singer.Moon Seoyeon gritted her teeth and gave him a look, but neither Nam Gyuhwan nor Roh Haeil paid any attention.“What did you prepare?”Nam Gyuhwan rummaged through his pocket and pulled out an old note.“Since I’m not good at English… Ahem.”Then he reads.Strong Konglish pronunciation, strange grammatical structure.But still-.[Hello, Halo. Nice to meet you. I am your big fan. And I want. You. band. Please.]The boy chuckled.“I like it.”“?”Moon Seoyeon and Nam Gyuhwan looked up.What does it mean to say “I like it” at this timing?It doesn’t seem to be a good meaning.They sensed the bad signal eerily well, having failed interviews like this several times before.Then, an unexpected words were heard.“Join my band.”Their faces changed from surprise to disbelief, and then to suspicion.Looking at them, Halo leaned back on the sofa and said with a faint smile.“Until the day we find Halo.”:“What are you going to do?”Right after Moon Seoyeon and Nam Gyuhwan went back to get their belongings for a moment, Han Jinyeong asked Halo, who was looking out the window.Through the window, Moon Seoyeon could be seen delivering a knee kick towards Nam Gyuhwan. It seems the video only showed a very small part.They were quite unique friends.Their performance was like that too.“I was originally just going to show them.”Halo said, looking at them.“But they said they want to find me themselves.”I don’t know why there are so many people like this around him.Didn’t Hwang Ryongpil also say he would find out what the traces in his music meant by himself?The drummer Nam Gyuhwan seemed to be saying the same thing.The difference in their views is clear. Hwang Ryongpil had a more exploratory feeling, while Nam Gyuhwan was closer to the feeling of fulfilling his singer’s wish as a fan.Yes, he did sing such a song.That you will call it glory first.“Well, they’ll know soon anyway. There are many ways to find out somehow.”Halo nodded at Han Jinyeong’s words.“Won’t they ask soon? If you’re that one.”“Then I’ll answer that I am.”However…Halo recalled Nam Gyuhwan, who had prepared his lines himself and uttered clumsy English.It’s just that it was impressive, but.Rather than asking if he is Halo,He hope he’d say it like he wrote on that note.-Hello, Halo. Nice to meet you. I’m your fan, and I want to be your band.That clumsy single sentence would besatisfying enough, he thinks.#“So, what do we do now?”Since securing the session musicians, work on the album has been in full swing.They gathered in one place to work on Roh Haeil’s single album <Lighthouse of the Night>.The recording will be done in one take and everyone has memorized the score.When they conducted an overdub test.The sound of the bass providing solid support.The combination of the fluid synthesizer befitting a former pianist andthe percussion capable of handling more percussion instruments than expected was quite good.So, “quite.”The phrase “happily ever after” seems to only apply in fairy tales.What smooth work.A used-new member who had given up band life for a long time and recently started band life again. A synthesizer that seems to compromise but at some point gets drunk on its own performance, and a percussion with firm preferences.When they conducted a one-take (ensemble) recording instead of overdubbing, their individuality was fully revealed.“Should we take a break and try again?”“But it’s just getting fun.”The boy raised the corner of his mouth crookedly.Yes, there’s one more person here.A quasi-high school student whose life has always been a series of struggles, even if he can’t act his age.The practice of recording has resumed.The smooth start is short-lived, as they bare their teeth at each other, ready to devour one another. Fortunately, there are no herbivores here. Far from being intimidated by sharp teeth, they rush at each other, each thinking they’re better.Still, the fortunate thing is that the battle was fought only on the battlefield of music.It seems today’s recording has gone down the drain.He won’t give up on one-take recording, and he didn’t expect them to suddenly perform a fantastic ensemble today.However, he’s thinking of trying something else.Something more interesting.“Let’s change the song for a moment.”Let’s save <Lighthouse of the Night> for now.It seems he needs to have a proper face-off with these people.He’s been fighting too timidly.“H-how?”Moon Seoyeon, who knows well that she gets drunk on her own performance, pretends to be cautious.“To a different song.”“Which song?”“Anything is fine. Let’s go around with each person’s favorite song.”At that moment, Nam Gyuhwan raises his hand.“Addiction.”He was a man of consistent taste.Halo nodded, raising the corner of his mouth.He immediately adjusted his electric guitar.He didn’t expect to play this as a band.There was no starting signal.As Halo rushed ahead first, the percussion hurriedly followed, and the bass and synth came in simultaneously.Unlike <Lighthouse of the Night>, <Addiction> is already a completed song. In other words, there’s a clear standard.No one will try to forcibly twist this perfect standard. Usually, that is.Halo intentionally took the tempo one beat faster. The dissonance that occurs at that moment. <Addiction> began to collapse.The bass hurriedly responds to the tempo of the electric guitar.The percussion, which was trying to maintain the perfect standard, persists, but it is destined to seek harmony with the bass.As the bass and drums, the backbone of the song, follow the tempo, the synth can no longer get drunk on its own performance and matches the tempo.Thus, perfection is completed in the midst of destruction, and the performance ends.Halo raised the corner of his mouth.Everyone realizes the completed harmony and feels catharsis.“Huh!”As the performance ended, everyone exhaled the breath they had been holding.It’s unclear who let out the exclamation, but everyone was tired yet smiling.“Any other song you want to play?”Han Jinyeong shrugs his shoulders.His favorite “Let It Be” doesn’t seem to fit this atmosphere.Glancing at Han Jinyeong, Moon Seoyeon’s lips twitch before she smiles as if she can’t help it.“I’m… okay too.”“What about Nam Gyuhwan-ssi?”Halo finally looked at Nam Gyuhwan.He seems sad that ‘Addiction’, the song he loves, collapsed into dissonance at the beginning.“Are you going to ruin another song?”“Well, if necessary.”“I think once is enough.”Nam Gyuhwan’s expression wasn’t bad though.He seemed refreshed, as if he had realized how to match each other.So now no one wants to play another song?Halo looked around at them and said,“Then now. Let’s try that.”People looked at him as if to ask what he meant.“A performance.”Hi everyone, I've fully translated this series. If you love the series and wanted to binge read until the end, you can go to my Patreon "Shop" page. Instead of buying the advanced chapters one by one, you can buy them in one bulk (with discounted price too)!